Can molars cause sore throat?
By
Dr Shivam Jha
This blog post will answer the question, “Can molars cause sore throat?” and comprehensively cover topics like sore throat, signs and symptoms of sore throat, causes of sore throat, diagnosis, home remedies and medicines for sore throat.
Can Molars Cause Sore Throat?
Yes, infected or impacted molars may cause sore throat. Molars are the posteriormost teeth in the oral cavity, nearest to the throat and therefore any infection in the molars spreads to the surrounding areas causing painful and sore throat.
Everything You Need To Know About A Sore Throat
What is a sore throat?
Dry, painful, or itching and scratchy feeling in the throat is a sore throat with pain being the most common symptom.
Depending on the part of the throat they affect, sore throat can be divided into following types:
- Pharyngitis – area right behind the mouth is mostly affected
- Tonsillitis – swelling and redness of the tonsils mostly in the back of the mouth
- Laryngitis – swelling and redness of the voice box, also called larynx
Sore throat symptoms
Sore throat symptoms may vary depending on the cause. A sore throat can feel:
- Scratchy and itchy
- Burning and dry
- Tender and irritated
Symptoms of a sore throat aggravate on swallowing and the tonsils appear red. Area of pus may also form on the tonsils.
Secondary symptoms associated with sore throat are:
- nasal congestion or runny nose
- Sneezing and cough
- Fever or chills
- swollen glands in the neck and hoarse voice
- body aches and headache
- Difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia) and appetite loss
Causes Of Sore Throats
Causes of sore throats range from Colds, flu, viral and bacterial infections to allergies and injuries. Some of the most common causes of sore throat are:
1. Viral infections
Viruses cause about 90 percent of sore throats. Viruses that cause sore throats are:
- Common cold
- Influenza — The Flu
- Mononucleosis
- Measles
- Chickenpox
- Mumps
2. Bacterial infections
Bacterial infections can also result in sore throats. Group A Streptococcus bacteria causes the most common infection of the throat and tonsils, called Strep Throat.
Strep throat causes nearly 40 percent of sore throat cases in children.
Tonsillitis, and sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea and chlamydia can also cause a sore throat.
3. Allergies
Allergens like pollen, grass, and pet dander triggers the immune system to release chemicals that cause symptoms similar to that of a sore throat.
4. Dry air
Dry air, mostly during winters, can vapour off moisture from the mouth and throat. This leads to a dry and scratchy feeling in the throat that resembles sore throat symptoms.
5. Smoke and chemicals
The following may irritate the throat leading to symptoms similar to that of a sore throat:
- cigarette and other tobacco smoke
- air pollution
- cleaning products and other chemicals and irritants
6. Injury
Any injury, continuous talking or yelling or singing, strains the vocal cords and muscles in the throat, leading to symptoms of a sore throat.
7. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which stomach acid returns back into the oesophagus, burning the oesophagus and throat, causing symptoms like heartburn.
8. Tumour
A tumour of the throat, voice box, or tongue is a rare cause of a sore throat. The signs and symptoms of sore throat in such cases are persistent and do not go away in a few days.
How is a sore throat diagnosed?
Doctors diagnose sore throat based on symptoms, a throat exam, and a strep test to rule out the possibility of strep throat. For a sore throat, you might need to visit an ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) specialist.
Home remedies for a sore throat
Most sore throats are treatable at home with plenty of rest and following home remedies to lessen the pain of a sore throat:
- Warm water and 1 teaspoon salt mixture gargle
- Drink warm, throat soothing liquids like hot honey tea, herbal tea, soup broth, or warm water with lemon
- Suck on a piece of hard candy or a lozenge
- Turn on a cool mist humidifier to add moisture to the air
- Rest your voice until your throat feels better.
When to call your doctor
Sore throats due to a viral infection usually get better on their own in two to seven days. If it persists even after seven days and symptoms worsen, it is time to call your doctor.
Medicines for a sore throat
Pain is the most common symptom of a sore throat and can be relieved by taking over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen, ibuprofen etc.
A sore throat spray, menthol or eucalyptus based cooling syrups or throat lozenges may also help reduce the discomfort from sore throat.
Conclusion
This blog post addressed the question, “Can molars cause sore throat?” We understood about sore throat, signs and symptoms of sore throat, causes of sore throat, diagnosis, home remedies and medicines for sore throat.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs): Can Molars Cause Sore Throat
Can wisdom teeth cause a sore throat?
Yes, wisdom teeth that are partially erupted or have not fully erupted in the oral cavity, may harbour a lot of infection-causing bacteria, resulting in tooth infection that spreads to other parts of the body to cause fever, tonsillitis and sore throat.
Can 12 year molars cause sore throat?
Yes, 12 year molars while erupting may cause discomfort to your child in the form of fever, runny nose, swollen gums around erupting molars and sore throat.
Can a bad tooth give you a sore throat?
Yes, a bad tooth like an abscessed tooth can cause severe pain, and can also cause bacteria to spread throughout your mouth, resulting in a sore throat.
Can a tooth infection cause a sore throat on one side?
Yes, a tooth infection if left untreated may spread and cause sore throat. The sore throat caused can involve both sides or just one side depending upon the infection severity and your body’s infection fighting abilities (immunity).
What drink helps a sore throat?
Gargling with a mixture of warm water and 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of salt helps a sore throat heal faster.
Drink warm, throat soothing liquids such as hot tea with honey, soup broth, or warm water with lemon.
References:
Sore Throat, (2020)
Toothache: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Sore Throat on One Side: 8 Causes – Healthline
Wisdom Teeth Pain Relief: 15 Remedies for Toothaches. (2019)
Wisdom tooth infection: Symptoms, causes, and how to treat it. (2020)